Islamabad Bombing: Pakistani PM Accuses India and Afghanistan Amid TTP Claim

A devastating suicide bomb attack struck Islamabad's G-11 judicial complex on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals. This incident is among the deadliest acts of terror to occur in Pakistan's capital in recent years. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has controversially pointed fingers at both India and Afghanistan for allegedly supporting those responsible for the bombing.

According to a statement reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Sharif described the attackers as "Indian-sponsored terrorist proxies" and accused New Delhi of engaging in "state-sponsored terrorism aimed at destabilizing Pakistan." He further alleged that the suicide attack originated from Afghan territory "with India's backing."

Sharif emphasized the need for Afghanistan to take action against terrorist groups operating within its borders, stating that "lasting peace can only be realized by reining in TTP and other terrorist organizations." He reiterated Islamabad's position that the TTP has safe havens across the Afghan border, a claim that the Taliban regime in Kabul has consistently denied.

The Prime Minister linked the Islamabad bombing to a previous attack in Wana, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where three people were killed outside a Cadet College on Monday. He asserted that both incidents were part of a coordinated campaign by TTP militants operating from Afghanistan.

While addressing the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in Islamabad, Sharif declared that such attacks "cannot shake Pakistan’s resolve to root out terrorism completely."

As of Tuesday evening, India has not officially responded to the allegations. In the past, India has dismissed similar claims from Islamabad as unfounded attempts to shift blame for Pakistan's internal security issues.

The explosion at the Islamabad court complex is the first major suicide bombing in the federal capital since December 2022. It occurred as Pakistani forces were engaged in combat with militants in Wana, highlighting a renewed surge of insurgent activities across the northwest.

This attack occurs amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In October, the two countries experienced their deadliest border clashes in years, resulting in over 70 fatalities, including approximately 50 Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif referred to the Islamabad bombing as "a wake-up call," expressing skepticism regarding the efficacy of peace talks with the Taliban government in Kabul. "In this environment, it would be futile to hold out greater hope for successful negotiations with the rulers of Kabul," Asif commented on X.

The bombing underscores the deepening security crisis in Pakistan, which is fueled by a resurgence of militancy in its border areas and a fragile relationship with Taliban-governed Afghanistan. At the same time, Islamabad continues to attribute its growing instability to external factors, particularly India.